Suction operated hair clipper



Jan. 19, 1932. M. RoLsTAD SUCTION OPERATED HAIR CLIPPER 2 Sheets-Sheet lFiled May 29, 1.930

Jan. 19, 1932. M ROLSTAD 1,841,634

SUCTION OPERATED HAR CLIPPER Filed May 29, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M.Robi-@J lum m12 Patented Jan. 19,2, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-icsMELVIN ROLSTAD, OF WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA SUCTION OPERATED HAIR CLIPPERApplication filed May 29, 1930. Serial Nb. 457,356.

is to provide a hair clipper designed for operation by suction orvacuum.

As is, of course, well known the majority or hair clipping devices areoperated by electricity, but it may not always be convenient to obtain asupply of electric current in places where a clipper is to be usedwhereas itis nearly always possible to obtain a power means capable ofactuating a suction pump and the clipper structure embodying the presentinvention is particularly designed for operation by a suction pump or byany means which is capable of withdrawing or sucking air from anattached receptacle, as for example the device may be connected for .useto the intake of an internal combustion engine or similar machine wherea constant suction exists while the machine is in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means for couplingtogether a `movable cutter bar, a pair of pistons each operating in acylinder which is intermittently exhausted, and a valve mechanism foralternately connecting the exhaust or suction pipe of the device withthe cylinders, whereby a smooth operation of the cutter is obtained freefrom any shaking or vibration.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, with the understanding,however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformitywith the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so longas such chang-es or modifications mark no material departure from thesalient features `of the invention as expressed in the -appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of the cutter embodying the presentinvention, minus the cover or casing therefor.

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure1.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 4--4 of Figure1.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure2.

sie

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view of one i of the pistons.

Figure 7 is a detailed sectional view of a control valve for the suctiontube of the implement. r

Figure 8 is a view-partly in top plan and partly in section of amodified form of the suction mechanism which may be employed inconnection with the present clipper.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals ofreference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, thenumeral 1 indicates generally the bottom of the cutter device embodyingthe present invention which bottom,

. as shown, comprises a relatively thick plate of oblong configuration.At one end, which is the forward end of the cutter, the plate is formedto extend upwardly at an obtuse angle as indicated at 2 and tothisupturned portion or flange there is secured by means of the screws 3the cutter head indicated generally by the numeral 4 and which comprisesY the under or fixed plate 5 along the forward edge of which the fixedteeth 6 are formed, and the shiftable plate 7 which is mounted upon thetop face thereof and has the teeth 8 formed along the forward edge forreciprocation over the fixed underlying teeth 6. This movable plate 7 ismaintained in position upon the fixed plate 5 by the lugs 9 which extendthrough the elongated slots 1() formed in the movable plate. Thisconstruction is usual and forms no part of the present invention. Therear edge of the movable plate 7 is provided at a point intermediate itsends with the recess 11 in which engages the head portion 12 of theoscillating actuata screw 15 passes through the bar 13 and enn gages thepost to maintain the bar in place thereon.

' Directly behind the post 14 the bar 13 is formed to provide adepending finger 16 and is also arched slightly as indicated at 17, thisarched portion terminating in a down turned rear end 18 and a fork 19the arms of which carry adjacent their ends the inwardly directedopposed studs 20.

The base 1 is provided with a bore 21 which constitutes a suction tubeand this bore is preferably formed to extend from the rear end of theplate longitudinally thereof in the manner shown, terminating at itsforward end in the upwardly directed outlet 22 which opens through thetop of the base plate. At each side of the aperture 22 whichcommunicates with the suction tube 21 there is formed in the plate anaperture 23 each of which is in communication with a passage or tube 24which leads to the far side of the base plate from the point where itopens out through the top thereof, as clearly shown in Figure 1, andterminates in an upwardly directed outlet 25 at a point rearwardly ofthe point where the outlets or apertures 22 and 23 are located. As shownin Figure 1 the apertures 22 and 23 are in alignment transversely of'the base 1 and are disposed with the outlet 22 upon the longitudinalcenter thereof, while the outlets 25 are also in alignment transverselyof the plate but are widely separated, one being at one side of theplate while the other is at the opposite side.

Disposed transversely of the base plate 1 with its longitudinal centerin the same-vertical plane as the plane in which the apertures 25 aredisposed, is a split cylindrical shell 26 each edge of which is providedwith a laterally extending lip 27.

These lips 27 are drawn together by a pair or more of screws 28 whichpass therethrough and are in threaded engagement with the l upper end ofsupporting posts 29 mounted upon the plate 1, thus drawing the lips 27tightly down onto these posts. @pposite the lips of the shell 26 thereis Yformed through the Wall thereof and intermediate its ends an opening30 through which the rear end p0rtion 18 of thebar 13 extends, disposingthe fork 19-within the shell and with the studs 2() thereof in verticalalignment and in the same ver-tical plane as the longitudinal center ofthe shell.

Within the shell 26 at each end thereof there is positioned a cylinder31. Each of these cylinders is open at its inner end'as shown in Figure3 and as is also shown in this Figure these open ends of the cylindersare spaced apart a distance substantially e ual to the width of theopening 30. It will, o course, be understood that the cylinders 31 aretightly gripped by the shell when the lips 27 thereof are drawn togetherin the is formed to provide a surrounding recess 37 in which the studs2O of the operating bar yoke 19 engage.

The plates 34 and 35 of each piston grip therebetween the base portionof a cup washer 38 and the plate 34 of each piston has positioned in theperipheral groove 39 formed therein an annular coil spring member 40which maintains the flange portion of the cup washer expanded so as tomaintain relatively tight frictional contact with the inner surface ofthe encasing cylinder.

Mounted upon the top of the plate 1 forwardly of the cylinders 31 is ablock 41 which has formed vertically therethrough a central passage 42and at each side thereof a passage 43. The passage 42 communicates withthe aperture 22 while the passages 43 each communicates with a passage23.

Mounted over the rear of the block 41 is an inverted substantiallyU-shaped frame 44.

rlhe top of the frame carries upon its under is mounted in the blockdirectly beneath the stud 45 an upwardly directed pivot stud 46.Disposed upon one side over the block 41 is a su stantially U-shapedoscillatable frame 47 the end of each leg of which is arcuately recessedas indicated at 48 to receive a stud 45 or 46 as shown in Figure 2. rlheyoke portion of this oscillatable frame 47 has attached thereto one endof a coil spring 49 while the other end thereof is attached, as shown inFigure 2, to the linger 16 carried by the cutter operating bar 13.

At each side of the oscillatable frame 47 there is an upstanding pin 50which carries a resilientsleeve 51 which acts as a bumper against whichthe frame 47 engages when it is oscillated.

,It will be readily seen from an examination of Figure 5 that uponmoving the finger 16 transversely of the block 41, as it moves in theoperation of the instrument, theframe 47 will be swung about the pivots45 and 46 and th1s swinging will be with a snapping movement so that theyoke portion-of the frame will snap back and forth between the bumpers51.

Pivotally attached to the lower side of the swinging frame 47 is a valvebutton 52 which slides over the face of the block 41 and alternatelyconnects the passages 43 with the cen- `face a depending pivot stud 45While there -there is mounted in a recess formed transversely of the airexhaust passage 21 a valve block 56 which, when moved in one direction,closes the passage 21 as shown in Figure 7. This block is held in placeby a plate 57, through which is formed a slotv 58. A pin carried by anoperating button 59 projects through the slot 58 for engagement with theblock 56 so that the operator of the instrument may conveniently shiftthe block to control the suction of air through the passage 21 and thuscontrol the operation of the cutter.

In operation a suitable pipe 60 is connected between the rear end of thepassage 21 of the instrument and a suitable suction element. By openingthe valve 56 the air will be sucked from that cylinder 31 in which thepiston 33 is positioned adjacent thecopen end thereof. The other pistonwill, of course, be adjacent the closed or head end of its cylinder.When the pistons are in this position the valve button 52 will be soplaced that the passage 24 which is in communication with the firstmentioned cylinder or, in other words,.with the cylinder where thepiston is adjacent the base or inner endthereof, will be incommunication with the suction or eX- haust passage 21. As the air isexhausted from the one cylinder the pistons will. move over and air willbe drawn into the other cylinder through the passage which is incommunication therewith and which at its othei` end is open to theatmosphere. As soon as the pistons have moved 'over to the limit oftheir movement one of the fingers carried by the bar 13 which, ofcourse, has had its rear end swung over from one side of the opening 30to the other, with the pistons, will engage the swinging frame 47 andgive to it a slight initial movement in the direction which the pistonsare moving. The

' finger 1'6 to which the spring 49 isconnected elements will then beshifted back to the rst position by duplication of the movements of thevarious parts in the manner just described. K

From this it will be readily seen that by the application of continuedsuction to the pipe 60 and the passage 21 theoscillation of the bar 13upon its pivot 15 and the movement of the cutter bar 7 across the fixedbar 5 necessary to perform a hair cutting operation, will beaccomplished. The rapidity of the movement of the cutter may becontrolled either by controlling the operation of the suction apparatuswhich is attached to the instrument or, if the suction apparatus isoperating at a high rate of speed, through the manipulation of the valve56.

In Figure 8 there is shown a modified form of suctionproducing mechanismwhich` may be used in place of the cylinders 31 and pistons 33, if founddesirable. In this form of suction mechanism there is provided a casing61 which is in the form of a segment, it having an arcuate front wall 62and the convergent sidewalls 63 extending from the ends of the frontwall and terminating in spaced relation to provide an opening 64.7,Mounted upon the base of the instrument and closing the opening 64 isan oscillatable post 65 which turns about the pivot 66. The edges of theopening 64 may abut snugly against the post 65 and may be provided withsuitable packing 67 to prevent air being drawn into the casing at thesides of the post. The post 65 upon the inside of the casing has castintegral therewith a fan blade 68 while at the outer side anddiametrically opposite the blade 68 there is attached to the post thevarm 69 which corresponds to the bar 13 in the preferred form of theinvention. This arm carries a head 7 0 which engages the shiftablecutter bar of the clipper.

In each ofthe two corners formed at the points of j oinder between 'thearcuate wall 62 and the Walls 63 there is an outlet opening 71 each ofwhich is provided for connection with one of the passages 25 in the baseof the instrument.

While in the foregoing descriptive matter the cutter has been referredto as a hair clipper .it is, of course, to be understood that it may beused for shearing sheep and other animals.

It will alsofbe readily understood that the clipper may be convenientlyoperated by connecting it with the vacuum tube 4on an automobile and forthis reason it may be employed in laces where electrical clippers orclippers o other types could not be used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a device ofthe character described, including a body, a iixed member and a movablemember on the fixed member, a cylinder disposed transversely of the bodyand closed at each end and having an opening in the wall thereof, avalve block mounted upon the body forwardly of said cylinder and havingthree upwardly opening passages arranged in a line transversely thereot,means for connecting the center one of said three passages with asuction means, each of the outer ones of said passages being connectedwith one end of said cylinder, a pair of pistons in said cylinder havinga connecting rod therebetween, a frame disposed over said block, a yokeof substantially U shaped design having the free end of one legpivotally connected to said frame and the free end of the other legpivotally connected to the block, a valve member carried by said yokeand slidable on the block to alternately connect the last mentionedpassage with the passa-ge communicating with the' suction means, a barpivotally mounted intermediate its ends between said members and saidcylinder and having one end connected through said cylinder opening withsaid connecting rod and its other end connected to said movable member,a depending linger carried by said bar, and a spring member connectingsaid nger with said yoke intermediate the connected ends thereof, saidyoke having the legs thereof substantially parallel with the bar at thelimit of movement of each piston.

2. ln a device of the character described, includinga body, a linedmember and a movable member on the lixed member, a cylinder disposedtransversely of the body and closed at each end and having an opening inthe wall thereof. a valve block mounted upon the body forwardly ot saidcylinder and having three upwardly opening `passages arranged in a linetransversely thereof, means for connecting the center one of said threepassages with a suction means, each of the outer ones ot said passagesbeing connected with one end of said cylinder, a pair ot pistons in saidcylinder having a connecting rod therebetween, a frame disposed oversaid block, a oke ot' substantially U shaped design having the tree endor" one leg pivotally connected to said frame and the free end ot theother leg pivotally connected to the block, a valve member carried bysaid yoke and slidable on the block to alternately connect the lastmentioned passage with the passage communicating with the suction means,a bar pivotally mounted intermediate its ends between said members andsaid cylinder and having one end connected through said cylinder openingwith said connecting rod and its other end connected to said movablemember, a depending finger carried by said bar, and laterally directedarms carried by said bar, each terminating in a depending portion, eachof said depending portions being arranged to engage said yoke to startmovement thereof during an oscillatory movement ot' the bar.

3. In a device of the character described,

a base, an arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends for oscillation,an element connected With one end of said arms for actuation thereby, acylinder disposed transversely of the other end of the arm andcomprising a pair of cylindrical bodies each having one end opened andsaid bodies being disposed With their open ends in spaced opposedrelation, a longitudinally split cylindrical sleeve having saidcylindrical bodies disposed therein, said sleeve having a lateral flangeformed integral therewith and longitudinally of each of the edges of thesplit portion thereof, elements connecting said anges to contract thesleeve about said cylindrical bodies, said sleeve having an aperturetherein at a point between the opposed ends of the bodies to facilitatethe extension of the other end of said arm into the cylinder, a pistonin each of said cylindrical bodies, said pistons having a rigidconnecting rod therebetween with which the said other end of the arm isconnected, and valve controlled means for alternately drawing air fromthe cylindrical bodies trom a point between the closed ends ot the sameand the pistons therein.

ln testimony whereof l hereunto ami; my

signature.

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